Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer PP: Syntopic ?? Synoptic!!

Okay, from the first time I saw this word I said, "What? Maybe I don't know how to spell it. Maybe I pronounce it incorrectly." I've even posted on this forum using the "syntopic" spelling.

Today, while going over the board, this bug took a big bite and I had to go check. Before I went tilting windmills I pulled out the PR book, and yes they use the "syntopic" spelling. Then I went to my Webster dictionary, in the office, but it was no help. I was a little disappointed. I had expected to at least see synoptic under synopsis, but I was not rewarded. So, to the on-line world I travelled. My search of on-line dictionaries yielded no definition for "syntopic", but I was rewarded with the definition of "synoptic". Thankfully, it was the definition I thought it would have, which I believe is the same as used the LSC material.

I thought, maybe "syntopic" is a new high-tech term. So I tried the high-tech dictionaries and was left without finding anything.

I performed a general search on the internet for "syntopic", and I got quite a few hits. I looked at several of these. One site used it in a company name. All the others I read used "syntopic" as if it were "synoptic".

My next thought was, "Hey, maybe the boys at MS has generated a major faute pas and have entered "syntopic" in their spell checker instead of "synoptic". I loaded Word, and nope. "Syntopic" comes up as a non-word.

------------------Merriam-Webster ----------

One entry found for synoptic.

Main Entry: syn·op·tic
Pronunciation: s&-'näp-tik
Variant(s): also syn·op·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek synoptikos, from synopsesthai
Date: 1763
1 : affording a general view of a whole
2 : manifesting or characterized by comprehensiveness or breadth of view
3 : presenting or taking the same or common view; specifically often capitalized : of or relating to the first three Gospels of the New Testament
4 : relating to or displaying conditions (as of the atmosphere or weather) as they exist simultaneously over a broad area
- syn·op·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
-------------------

So, please correct my ignorance or stop using the syntopic spelling.

I really don't expect Pete to respond to this. Not, something that would be high on his priority list.

End Of Rant

This really isn't worth arguing over.

Yes, it is a misspelling but, it gets the point across.
If I saw the word, "synoptic" I would think it had something to do with eyesight (optic)

Whereas I know "syntopic" because it has the the word "topic" in it.

I used to be urked by misspellings in books, too (English Minor). But hey, I figure lifes to short to "cross every 'T' and dot every 'I'

Jonah

I hated high school english.
I was required to take arts course when I was at Univ., and I only took one. It wasn't english.
I work in a optics related field, but the word synoptic still comes up on occassion without confusion.

I know it's not worth wasting time over.
My post just lets me get it off my chest.
I wish I had some nice post about PR instead, but I haven't mastered it yet. Infact, I barely use it.

Thanks for noticing and commenting Johan

Iam2

As Syntopic reading is a new concept created by LSC or whoever, it is a new word.

Break down the word: Syn- topic.

Syn as in synthesis is to bring things together.

Topic is an area of interest or whatever.

Thus, Syntopic Reading, the merging of various sources on a single topic fits the word quite well.

Actually, the term Syntopical was used by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, authors of How To Read A Book, first published in 1940. Their fourth level of reading was Syntopical Reading - how to read two or more books on the same topic.

Paul Scheele and Patricia Danielson borrowed the idea and began to use the term Syntopic (not Synoptic) in connection to PhotoReading, meaning to PhotoRead several books on the same subject (as mentioned above).

Hi Sandy. Nice to see someone is going back through the posts. I thought this one was long since dead.

I didn't expect to change any usage, it's just helps me to let go of things by saying (posting) them out loud.

So can we attribute the birth of syntopical to Adler and Van Doren, and syntopic to Scheele and Danielson?

Now just to add a little more sand to the works. Which of the words is an adjective and which and adverb? My take is that neither is a noun or a verb, and we don't have two words preforming the same role and the same meaning do we?

Gee, you'd think I was an english major instead of a physics major.

Pssst, still yanking LSC's chain. Although, I am curious as to what the LSC answer is.

[This message has been edited by Iam2 (edited November 08, 2002).]

Well, since "reading" or "to read" is a verb, and an adverb describes a verb, adjective, or adverb, and usually ends in -ly, then Syntopic and Syntopically must be adverbs. We can always ask The Grammar Lady to be sure

Wow, I totally missed that. The definition of syntopic reading so perfectly matches my expected definition for synoptic reading that my brain never bothered to note what was going on.

(Worse part is being a natural Polarity Responder, and either missing "not" when it's there, or seeing "not" when it's not there).